Peace …………..

St Augustine describes true peace as ‘tranquillity in order’ between God and ourselves, order within ourselves and order in our relationships with others. If we live that threefold order, we will have peace, and we will transmit peace to others.
Order towards God means that we are firmly determined to root all sin out of our lives, and to centre everything on Christ.

Order towards others means, in the first place, being very refined in the way we live justice – justice in our words, in our judgements and in our actions, because peace is the result of justice.

And then, going beyond justice, there is mercy; on so many occasions, mercy moves us to help, to console, to be a support to those in need. Where justice is loved, where the dignity of the human person is respected, where one is not looking to one’s own personal interest, but rather to serve God and others – that’s where you’ll find peace.

Remembering that we are children of God will give us that solid peace, which isn’t disturbed by the ups and downs of our emotions or the events of the day: it will give us the serenity and steadiness which we need so much.
Every Christian has the duty to bring peace and joy to his own surroundings on earth. This cheerful crusade of manliness will move even shrivelled or rotten hearts, and raise them to God.

Mary is the Queen of Peace, and thus the Church invokes her. So when your soul or your family are troubled, or things go wrong at work, in society, or between nations, cry out to her without ceasing – “Queen of Peace, pray for us!”

Mass Readings

May 2019